About us
🎉 Welcome to & Windy City Wanderers! 🌆
We’re so glad you’re here!
Whether you’re new to Chicago or a lifelong local, these sister groups are all about being a tourist in your own city—discovering hidden gems, rich history, fun facts, and unforgettable experiences across Chicagoland. 🗺️✨
Windy City Wanderers is the sister group to 1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die, and we host many joint events together—so you’ll often see crossover adventures and shared outings. 🤝
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🗓 What to Expect
We host fun, social outings year-round (yes, even in winter ❄️). Expect:
• Walking tours & neighborhood explorations
• Concerts, lectures & theater
• Pop-up dinners, trivia & social nights
• Museums, festivals & special events
Events take place throughout Chicago and nearby suburbs like Evanston, Oak Park, and Park Ridge.
🚇 All events are CTA-accessible.
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💬 Why Join?
• Discover new places all over Chicagoland
• Meet new people and make real connections
• Enjoy an active, well-curated event calendar
• Try the group FREE for 90 days
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💰 Membership
• 90-day free trial
• Annual dues: $12/year after the trial
• 🎉 Host an event and your dues are waived!
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🚨 RSVP / No-Show Policy (Please Read)
To keep events fair and running smoothly:
• A no-show without updating your RSVP = 1 strike
• 3 strikes = a 3-month pause from events
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🤝 Stay Connected
📘 Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576822533554
👥 Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1571684466442303
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/1001thingstoseeinchicago/
🌬️ !001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die Meetup (sister group)
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers
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💡 Have an idea for an event? Want to host or co-host?
Just message me—I’d love to hear from you!
Can’t wait to explore, wander, and discover Chicago together 💙
Cheers,
Giovina Romandine
Organizer, Windy City Wanderers 🌬️🚶♀️🚶♂️
Upcoming events
34
🌊☀️ Northside Beach Hopping: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park Lakefront Walk! 🍹
Jarvis Beach & Park, 1208 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago, IL, US🌊☀️ Northside Beach Hopping: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park Lakefront Walk! 🍹🚶♀️
Part 1 of 2 — North Side Beaches, Parks & Lake Views
Join us for a beautiful Friday afternoon walk along one of Chicago’s most scenic stretches of lakefront! We’ll explore the far north end of the Lakefront Trail, starting at Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park near Loyola and making our way south through beaches, parks, and hidden lakefront gems before ending at Berger Park and The Waterfront Café.
📅 Friday, August 21, 2026
⏰ 3:00–5:45 PM
📍 Start: Jarvis Beach & Park
1208 W. Jarvis Ave.
Chicago, IL
🏁 End Point: The Waterfront Café
6219 N. Sheridan Rd.🚶 About the Walk
✅ Distance: Approximately 3.2 miles
✅ One-way walk
✅ Easy/moderate pace with lake views and photo stops
Our route includes:
🌊 Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park
🌊 Sherwin on the Lake
🌊 Leone Beach Park
🌊 Loyola Beach
🌳 Loyola Park Natural Area
🌊 Tobey Prinz Beach Park
🌊 Columbia (Helen Doria) Beach
🌊 North Shore Beach Park
🌊 Hartigan Beach
🌊 Rosemont Avenue / Edgewater Beach
🍹 The Waterfront Café⚠️ The Lakefront Trail does not fully connect through this section, so we’ll zig-zag along Sheridan Road and neighborhood streets while walking along the beach whenever possible.
🍹 Part 2: Dinner & Live Music at The Waterfront Café
After the walk, many of us will continue with dinner, drinks, and live music at The Waterfront Café!⚠️ Dinner is a separate Meetup event due to limited space.
If you want to join us for dinner and music, RSVP here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/315748432/🍴 The Waterfront Café is a casual, family-friendly lakeside restaurant and performance venue with beautiful lake views.
Menu:
http://waterfrontcafechicago.com/fooddrink📌 What to Bring
✅ Water
✅ Sunscreen
✅ Comfortable walking shoes
✅ Summer clothing
✅ Camera — lots of great photo opportunities!
🚻 Public restrooms may be limited depending on beach facilities, so plan ahead.🚇 Transportation & Parking
🚗 Limited street parking near the starting point.
🅿️ Consider parking closer to the end point since this is a one-way walk.🚇 Easy CTA access:
- Red Line nearby
- CTA buses #146, #147, #151
Use CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🅿️ Parking apps:
SpotHero or ParkWhiz🌤️ Weather Note:
This is a weather-dependent outdoor event. We’ll monitor the forecast and update if needed.⚠️ RSVP Reminder
✅ Please update your RSVP if your plans change.
✅ RSVP changes must be made before the event begins.
📱 Running late? Message the host directly.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month signup freeze.🌊☀️ Come enjoy lake breezes, beautiful beaches, Chicago history, and a perfect summer Friday along the North Side lakefront. Let’s walk, explore, and end the day with great food and music! 🍹🎶
12 attendees
🌊🎷 Lake Views, Live Jazz & Dinner at Waterfront Café! 🍽️
The Waterfront Cafe, 6219 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, US🌊🎷 Lake Views, Live Jazz & Dinner at Waterfront Café! 🍽️
Part 2 of 2 — Dinner, Drinks & Live Jazz at Berger Park
🌴 Let’s head back to one of our favorite Chicago summer spots — Waterfront Café! It feels like a little Miami escape right here on the North Side with beautiful lake views, a relaxed beach café atmosphere, great food, drinks, and live music on the patio.
Join us for a fun Friday night of dinner, conversation, and jazz overlooking Lake Michigan!
📅 Friday, August 21, 2026
⏰ Meet: 6:00 PM
🎶 Live Music: 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Waterfront Café
Berger Park
6219 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL🎷 Featured Performance:
Allan Laskey Trio
The Allan Laskey Trio brings a cool, sophisticated jazz sound featuring:
🎵 Traditional jazz & swing
🎵 Classic jazz standards
🎵 Great American Songbook favorites
🎵 Jazz blues influences inspired by artists like Charlie Parker
Perfect music for a relaxing summer evening by the lake!⚠️ IMPORTANT:
This Meetup is ONLY for the dinner and music portion.
Earlier that afternoon, we are hosting:
🌊☀️ Northside Beach Hopping: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park Lakefront Walk! 3-5:30 pm
The walk is a separate Meetup event, and space is limited for each.
If you want to do the WALK TOO please RSVP separately here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/315748420/🌞 The Plan
🍽️ Meet at Waterfront Café at 6 PM.
We’ll arrive early to grab tables since seating is first-come, first-served and reservations are not available.
✅ Tables are usually limited to 4–6 people
✅ We’ll try to grab a cluster of tables together
✅ If you arrive later, message me and we’ll try to save space (no guarantees)
🎶 Music starts at 7 PM, but tables can fill up well before then!🍔 About Waterfront Café
Located in historic Berger Park, Waterfront Café is a unique lakefront dining spot housed in a historic landmark coach house connected to one of Chicago’s last remaining lakefront mansions.
Enjoy:
🌊 Amazing Lake Michigan views
🎶 Outdoor patio music
🍔 Casual beach café food
🍹 Full bar and summer drinks
🌅 One of Chicago’s best sunset settings
🌐 Website:
http://waterfrontcafechicago.com/🍽️ Dining Information
Counter-service restaurant — everyone orders separately.
💳 CREDIT/DEBIT ONLY — NO CASH
For our group, please plan to add approximately 32% to your order:
• 12% Chicago sales tax
• 20% gratuity
🦟 Pro Tip:
Bring bug spray! Beachside patios can get buggy after sunset.🎷 Featured Performance:
Second City Jazz
Second City Jazz is a talented Chicago-based ensemble performing everything from swing, Big Band, and Dixieland to jazz standards,Latin jazz, and contemporary favorites. Known for their outstanding musicianship and energetic performances, they're a favorite at festivals, parks, and community events throughout the Chicago area.
Whether you're a longtime jazz fan or simply enjoy great live music, you're in for a wonderful evening!
🌐 Website: https://www.secondcityjazz.com/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecondCityJazz/🚇 Transportation
CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Parking:- Metered parking available on Granville Avenue
- Limited free street parking nearby (watch permit signs!)
- SpotHero or ParkWhiz recommended
⚠️ RSVP Reminder
✅ Please only RSVP if you are 95% sure you can attend.
✅ Seating is limited, so accurate headcounts are important.
✅ Update your RSVP before the event begins if plans change.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month RSVP pause.🌴🍹 Come enjoy a little Chicago beach magic — great friends, lake views, delicious food, and live jazz under the summer sky. It’s the perfect way to end a summer Friday! 🎶🌊
27 attendees
🌞 Summer Potluck Picnic
Foster Beach, West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL, US☀️ Summertime!
We'll have a POTLUCK picnic on Foster Avenue Beach area. Bring chairs, tables, blankets, food (to share), and your beverages of choice. This will be a joint Meetup with the Chicago Dining Out Meetup, other social meetup groups, and friends :-)
A small GRILL and some charcoal will be available for those who wish to grill veggies, meats, seafoods, etc. 🍗🦐🌽 ....
It's GYOB -- Grill Your Own BBQ🔥
If you have an extra grill and charcoal, feel free to bring it too.We are at the north end of the beach under the trees, east of the (Berwyn) pedestrian underpass.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/86HJX8HX%2BWH/@41.9798125,-87.6532512,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d41.9798125!4d-87.6510625
Or enter: X8HX+WH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
in https://www.google.com/maps
or:
https://gps-coordinates.org/my-location.php?lat=41.979972&lng=-87.65102
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This event is also posted in other Meetup groups, the more the merrier!
OFFICIALLY, Alcohol is not allowed on Chicago Park District property. Should you chose to ignore that, please be discreetNOTE: This is an outdoor activity. In case of inclement weather, we may change the details of this event. We're tracking the weather. Updates will be posted as we get closer.
Parking is available but come early. If parking lot is full, CPD may not allow any more vehicles inside the parking lot. If that happens, please find parking elsewhere in the side streetsFor those taking Uber/Lyft, use the address:
950 W Berwyn Ave., Chicago IL 60640
Then walk further EAST on Berwyn. Follow the path and walk THRU the underpass. We will be under the shade trees a few yards EAST of the LSD underpass (See map above)***
Closest CTA transport are (See map above):
https://www.transitchicago.com/
http://www.google.com/transit- Buses 147, 146 & 151
- Red line L Berwyn station
- Yes, you can bring a bike! The venue is along the Lake shore path.
- Friendly dogs (and cats) are welcome!
Be seeing you! 👁
7 attendees
Past events
1024
Group links
Members
204
